Chapter 28: I really want to put this trap on Dan Heng's neck

""Remember, every step you take must be cautious; we know very little about this world." Dan Heng instructed Xing."

""Don't worry, with the three of us, there's nothing we can't solve." Sanyue Qi gave Xing a smug look and gestured, saying: "You have a Star Core in your body, I have a unique Six-Phase Ice, and Dan Heng has… uh, some mysterious past.""

"Upon mentioning Dan Heng's past, Xing's mouth opened wide in an "O", completely showing an eager-to-gossip expression."

"Dan Heng promptly turned his head aside, seemingly trying hard to avoid the topic."

""Whoever dares to cause us trouble is in for bad luck!" Sanyue Qi clenched her fists and waved them wildly twice; although she posed as fierce, her cute demeanor looked like she was being spoiled no matter how you looked at it.""

"Xing: "He's in for bad luck!""

""?" Sanyue Qi put her hands on her hips: "How long has this echolalia symptom lasted?""

"Xing again wore a smug, contemptuous expression."

"Sanyue Qi felt somewhat speechless; before Xing arrived on the train, she had thought this quiet girl's personality was rather shy, but now… perhaps this is her true nature?"

"On their way to the destination, many monsters appeared; according to Dan Heng, they were all rift-spawned monsters produced by the Star Core."

"Along the way, aside from a few lively monsters, most monsters had already turned into ice sculptures in the raging wind and snow."

"In the imperial capital, Esdeath, stationed at the Hunters Headquarters, was staring blankly at the image on the light screen."

"She, hailing from the Barutus Tribe of the northern borderlands, felt no unfamiliarity with this snowscape."

"Through Xing's vision, this land still bore traces of a prior civilization, though they were exceedingly faint. Thick snow accumulated over the years blanketed the rooftops; the stone walls, highlighted by the snow, appeared even sturdier; the old doors were half-buried in snow, as if forgotten by time."

"This bleak scene reminded her of her homeland, destroyed over a decade ago—perhaps the Barutus Tribe, now devoid of people, looks just like this."

"As she reminisced, Esdeath felt something nudge her foot."

"Coming to, she saw a thinly clothed man crawling at her feet, rubbing against her boots like a dog begging for a head pat."

"The man's muscles were tight and solid; at a glance he looked like someone who'd undergone relentless training—perhaps a formidable lone warrior in past armies—but before Esdeath, he dropped to his knees, fawning obsequiously to win favor from his master."

"Esdeath instinctively gripped the chain in her hand tighter; the chain's end was linked to his collar, and the man, unable to resist, slumped forward at her feet."

"He obediently licked her boots."

""How boring." Esdeath rolled her eyes and sighed, "Is this the strongest warrior of the North?""

"She raised her calf and stomped hard on the man's head; with a mighty heave, his head shattered like a smashed watermelon, blood and brains spraying everywhere."

"A sweet, bloody scent drifted in the air; Esdeath inhaled deeply, and this intoxicating aroma considerably eased her previously repressed mood."

"She lifted her gaze once more to the light screen—"

"Whenever the image lingered on Dan Heng's face, Esdeath's snow-white, delicate features began to flush with a hint of rose."

"As a sadistic queen, her interests weren't limited to tormenting and conquering ordinary people; she sought to subdue handsome youths who looked strong enough to be lethal at a glance."

"And this young man named Dan Heng perfectly met her criteria."

"His spear technique likely had no equal in the entire empire; especially when he wielded his spear to take lives, his handsome yet indifferent face showed no expression, as if everything were a matter of course."

"If it were a one-on-one duel… perhaps even she couldn't easily overcome him, but precisely because of that, this highly challenging goal rekindled her long-dormant fervent desire to conquer."

"Esdeath picked up the black collar stained with blood from the ground and licked her lips, still unsatisfied."

""If I put this on his neck, what expression would his face show?""

""I really want to see that……""

"——"

""The train trio walked another stretch in the snow, when Sanyue Qi suddenly noticed a snowdrift not far off twitching.""

""Hey, did you see that? Something seems to be moving inside that snow pile……""

""It's just an ordinary snowdrift; are you sure it's not your imagination?""

""Definitely not; our vision is great! Let's get closer to have a look.""

""The three approached the snowdrift cautiously and found a person hiding inside. Though freezing cold made him shiver, he simply refused to come out.""

""Hey, don't hide; you're shivering from the cold." Sanyue Qi craned her neck to peek into the snowdrift and advised, "Besides, staying silent won't help you……""

""Move aside, Sanyue.""

"Dan Heng approached with a stern expression, and with a single, clean sweep of his spear he brushed the snow off the man's buttocks; the sudden huge force knocked him off balance, and he stumbled and fell to the ground."

""Ow!" a blue‑haired man rubbed his rear, scrambled to his feet, and said, "Come on, man, it's not that big a deal—digging in the snow isn't a serious offense; you don't need to spear me with your rifle tip, do you?""

"Having just vented his displeasure, he realized the three before him were not to be trifled with. Dan Heng wore a stern face, Sanyue Qi frowned with hands on hips, and Xing… wore a grin that said she loved a good spectacle, the bigger the better."

"His expression instantly shifted from cloudy to sunny; the speed of his face‑change was startling. He clapped his hands, gave a hehe laugh, and said, "Uh, but this isn't the heroes' fault! Haha, I appeared too abruptly—this beating was well deserved. Otherwise, how could I have met such great friends? Haha……""

""May I ask if Commander Jepard is here? I'm quite acquainted with him.""

"Sanyue Qi tilted her head: "Who?""

"Seeing Sanyue Qi's reaction, the man's eyes rolled as he quickly guessed the trio's identities, and his tense expression immediately relaxed."

""Oh, you're not the Silvermane Iron Guard? If you'd said so earlier, us fighting our own would be pointless, wouldn't it?""

""Sangbo Koski, pleased to meet you.""